Switch



Patented Feb. 28, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT oFElcE SWITCH Arnold A.Bluemle and John W. Lawson, Anderson, Ind., assignors to General Motorsration, ware Application August 16,

17 Claims.

This invention relates to electric switches and more particularly toswitches with a snap action adapted for use on automotive vehicles.

An object of the present invention is to provide a simple but veryreliable type of snap action switch construction which can be readilymounted and inserted in an electric circuit.

Another object of the invention is to provide a switch mechanism havingan air vane whereby air currents impinging against the vaneautomatically control the position of the movable contact and that onchange of said Contact from an open position to a closed position of theswitch, or vice versa, the movement of the movable contact will be witha snap action.

Further objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparentfrom the following description, reference being had to the accompanyingdrawing wherein a preferred embodiment of the present invention isclearly shown.

In the drawing:

Fig. l is an enlarged plan view of the switch embodying the presentinvention with the cover in section.

Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. l.

Fig. 3 is a View similar to Fig. 1 showing the switch in a closedposition. l

Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken on the line 4 4 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken on the line 5 5 of Fig. l.

Referring to the drawing 2B designates a supporting base formed with anear 2| for mounting the base upon a suitable support, not shown. rl'hebase carries a stationary contact 22 which is preferably insulated fromthe base as shown and is provided with any suitable means of circuitconnections.

The base 20 is provided with an aperture 23 and has a projection or a,raised portion 24, see Fig. 5, formed by a punch press operation. Astop-plate 25 is secured to base 20. This stopplate is formed with a cupshape portion 26 provided with an annular flange 21 and an arm 28 whichis disposed substantially at right angles to the cup portion. The bottomwall of the cupshaped portion is provided with an aperture 29 and anotch 30, the notch cooperating with the projection 24 to properlyposition stop-plate 25 `upon the base 20. The annular flange 21 isprovided with a peripheral notch 3|.

Mounted to turn on the exterior surface of the cup-shaped portion 26 isa spring-plate 35 provided with an ear or lug 36. The plate 35 is heldCorno- Detroit, Mich., a corporation of Dela- 1937, Serial No. 159,306(Cl. 20o-81) upon the base by the annular flange 21 of the stop-plate25. The stop-plate is securely held in position on the base 20 by asleeve 38 having a reduced portion which passes through apertures 23 and29 of the base 20 and the plate 25. respectively, the reduced portionbeing peened against the inner surface of the bottom wall of cup-shapedportion 26, as at 33, making the juncture thereof secure.

The sleeve 38 provides a bearing for a shaft 40. The shaft has a collar4| formed on one end thereof, said collar resting against the peenedover portion of the sleeve to limit the axial movement of the shaft tothe right, as viewed in the drawing. The other end of the shaft projectsbeyond the sleeve 38 and carries a vane 45. 'I'his vane is preferablylocated in the path of air currents that are produced by the fan locatedin the front of and operated by the engine of an automotive vehicle.

The arm 28 of the stop plate 25 is provided with an opening 50 anddiametrically disposed V-shaped bearing grooves or recesses 5 I. Amovable contact member 52 having spaced arms 53 provided with knifeedges are pivotally supported in the grooves 5|. ber is connected by aoating tension spring 55, said spring having one end extending throughthe aperture 58 of the arm 28 and anchored to a pearshapedplate 58 andpositioned on one side or dead center so as tc provide a typical toggleaction for making and breailing a circuit. The line of tension of thespring is substantially midway between the arms 53 and the grooves Si ofthe arm 23 so as to produce an equal pressure on the two bearings 5| andmaintain the switch member 52 in its proper position.

The pear shaped plate 56 surrounds the shaft 4U and is moved from rightto left or left to right, depending upon the direction of rotation ofthe shaft d0, by a stud or pin 5l projecting from a stop plate 58. Theplate 58 is fixed to the end of the shaft 40, the shaft being providedwith a reduced portion havingfiat sides which is adapted to extendthrough a correspondingly shaped opening inthe plate 58 and spun overthe plate to secure same to the shaft, as clearly shown in Fig. 2. Theplate is also provided with spaced arms 6| and 62 between which projectsthe arm 28 of the stop-plate 25. The arms 6| and 62 cooperate with thearm 28 for limiting the rotation or oscillation of the shaft thereof.

A return spring 60 surrounds the shaft 40 and is disposed between theplate 58 and the collar 4|, one end of the spring is anchored to the arm62 and the other end is anchored to the lug 35 to normally hold the arm8l against the arm 28, the normal position of the switch. The tension ofthe spring 50 may lbe adjusted by turning the spring plate 35 about thecup-shaped portion of the stop plate 25. The plate 35 is held in adesired position of adjustment by a washer 'l2 and a screw 'M whichclamps the plate 35 against the base. By loosening the screw the plate35 can be rotated in either direction of rotation.

The switch mechanism is enclosed with a cover plate the same to besecured in position by a suitable screw 15, threaded into the basememaber 20 as at 16.

In operation, the movable elements of the switch are normally in theirpositions shown in Fig. 1. When high velocity air currents, produced bya fan not shown, impinge against the vane l5, the vane will move in acounterclockwise direction against the tension of the springv 60. Thismovement of the vane will cause the shaft 40, stop-plate 58 and thespring-plate 56 to also move in a counterclockwise direction, but themovable contact 52 will remain in engagement with a stop 8U, carried bythe base 2G, until the air currents are strong enough to rotate theelements 45, 58 and 56 far enough to cause the spring 55 to pass itsdead center. When this occurs the spring will snap the movable contact52 from the position shown in Fig. 1 to that of Fig. 2 into engagementwith the stationary contact 22. The elements 45, 40, 58 and 56 cancontinue to rotate until the arm 62 engages arm 28 which limits therotation of the shaft in the counterclockwise direction. When the shaftis moved in a return or clockwise direction by the spring 60 due to lowvelocity air currents, the movable contact member 52 will remain inengagement with the stationary contact until the spring 55 is againmoved past dead center in the return or backward direction. When thishappens the movable contact member 52 will be separated from thestationary contact 22 thrown against the stop with a snap action. I

While the embodiment of the present invention as herein disclosed,constitutes a preferred form, it is to be understood that other formsmight be adopted, all coming within the scope of the claims whichfollow. Y

What is claimed is as follows:

1. A switch mechanism comprising a support having a projection providedwith an opening; a movable contact pivoted on the projection; a movablemember; a shaft journaled in the support and extending through themovable member; a spring extending through the opening and connected tothe movable contact and the movable member to impart a snap action tothe movable contact; means carried by the shaft for actuating themovable member upon turning of the shaft to shift the springconnectionspast the pivoted point of the movable contact and yieldablemeans for resisting movement by the shaft in one direction, saidyieldable means operable for rotating the shaft in the oppositedirection upon the release of the means which urges the shaft in the rstmentioned direction.

2. A switch mechanism comprising, a support having a projection providedwith an. opening; a movable contact pivoted on the projection; a movablemember; a shaft rotatably supported with respect to the support andextending through the movable member; a spring. located within theopening and connected to the movable contact and the movable member; and

means carried by the shaft for actuating the movable member upon turningof the shaft to shift the spring past the pivotal point of the movablecontact, said means having provisionscooperating with the projection tolimit the turning of the shaft.

3. A switch comprising in combination; a base; an adjustable bracketcarried by the base and having an arm extending at right angles from thebase, said arm provided with an opening; a stationary contact carried bythe base; a movable contact pivoted on the arm; a movable plate; arotatable shaft supported from the base and having one end extendingthrough the plate; a spring extending in the opening of the arm andhaving one end anchored to the movable contact and the other end to themovable plate above the shaft for imparting a quick throw to the movablecontact into and out of engagement with the stationary contact; andmeans operative upon turning of the shaft for actuating the plate toshift the spring past the axis of the movable contact means for rotatingthe shaft in one direction; and spring means for rotating the shaft inthe opposite direction upon release of the means for rotating the shaftin the first mentioned direction.

4. A switch comprising in combination; a base ,having a projectionprovided with an opening;

a stationary contact carried by the base; a movable contact pivoted onthe projection; a movable plate; a shaft journalled in the base andhaving one end extending through the plate; a spring extending throughthe opening andv connected to the movable contact and the plate forimparting a snap action to the movable contact; means operative uponturning of the shaft for actuating the plate to shift the spring pastits dead center; a lever carried by the shaft and-responsive to aircurrents to rotate the shaft in one direction; and spring means forrotating shaft in the opposite direction as the air currents recede.

5. A switch comprising in combination; a base having a projection andprovided with an opening; a stationary contact carried by the base; amovable contact pivoted on the projection; a movable plate; a shaftjournalled in the base and having onev end extending through the plate;a spring extending through the opening and connected to the movablecontact and the plate for imparting a snap action to the movablecontact; and means operative upon turning of the shaft for actuating theplate to shift the spring past the axis of the movable contact, and saidmeans having provision cooperating with the projection to limit therotary movements of the shaft in either direction of rotation.

6. A switch comprising a stationary contact and a bracket provided withan opening and having V-shaped grooves in section on opposite sides ofthe opening; a switch member normally in engagement with the stationarycontact and having spaced apart knife edge portions pivoted in v-shapedgrooves in section on opposite sides of the opening; a switch/membernormally in engagement with the stationary contact and having spacedapart knife edge port-ions pivoted in the grooves; a movable member; afloating spring extending through the open: ng and resilientlyconnecting the movable member and the switch member between the spacedportions to maintain the knife edge portions within the grooves; a stopfor limiting the movement of the switch member away from the contact; arotary shaft; and means rotatable with the shaft for actuating themovable member to shift the spring past its dead center whereby theswitch member is snap actuated.

8. A switch comprising in combination; a

lbase member; a stationary contact carried by the base member; a bracketsupported on the base member and having an arm disposed substantially atright angles to the plane of the base member, said arm provided with anopening and having V-shaped grooves in section on opposite sides of theopening; a movable contact member having spaced apart knife edgeportions pivoted in the grooves; a stop for limiting the movement of themovable contact member away from the stationary contact; a movableapertured plate; a coiled spring having one end extending through theopening of the arm Vand anchored to the movable plate and the other endanchored to the contact member between the spaced portions; a shaftrotatably mounted .on the base member and having one end extendingthrough the opening of the plate; and means carried by the shaft foractuating the plate to shift the spring past the pivoted axis of themovable contact member.

9. A switch comprising in combination; a stationary contact; a bracket;a movable contact pivoted upon the bracket; a movable member; springmeans connected to the switch member and the movable member; a shaft;means carried by the shaft and connected to the movable member to swingthe movable member on rotation of the shaft to shift the spring meansment of the shaft; means for urging the shaft in one direction ofrotation; and yieldable means for automatically moving the shaft in theopposite direction of rotation in accordance with the bias of saidyieldable means upon retraction of theV means connected to the movablecontact and the element; a shaft rotatably supported with respect to thesupport; means carried by the shaft and connected with the element so asto swing the element on rotation of the shaft to shift the spring meanspast its dead center whereby the movable contact is snap actuated fromand into engagement with the stationary contact; means for urging theshaft in one direction of rotation; and yieldable means for resistingthe movement of the shaft in that one direction of rotation andautomatically moving the shaft in the opposite direction of rotation inaccordance with the bias of the yieldable means upon retraction f theurging means.

11. A switch comprising in combination; a support; a stationary contactcarried by the sups,14s,so1 3 port; a movable contact normally ensuingthe stationary contact and pivotally supported relato the support; meanscarried by the shaft and connected with the element so as to swing theelement on rotation of the shaft to shift the spring means past its deadcenter whereby the movable contact is snapI actuated from and intoengagement with the stationary contact; means for urging the shaft inone direction of rotation; resilient means for resisting the movement ofthe shaft in that one direction of rotation yand operating to move theshaft in the opposite direction in accordance with the stress of theresilient means \upon retraction of the urging means; and meansassociated with the element cooperating with means on the support tolimit the turning of the shaft in either direction of rotation. f

12. A switch comprising in combination; a stationary contact; a movablecontact pivotally supported relative to the stationary contact andnormally engageable with the stationary contact; a movable member; aspring connected to the movable contact and the member for imparting asnap action to the movable contact; a rotatable shaft; means operativeupon a predetermined movement of the shaft for actuating the movablemember to shift the spring past its dead center; power means forrotating the shaft in one direction; and spring means for rotating theshaft in the opposite direction as the power means is reduced.

i3. In a snap action switch the combination comprising, a pivotedcontact; a movable member; a spring connected to the movable contact andthe movable member; a rotatable shaft; means associated with the shaft,said means upon a predetermined movement of the shaft causing the saidmovable member to shift the spring past its dead center whereby thepivoted contact is snap actuated; power means for rotating the shaft inone direction; and resilient means for rotating the shaft in theopposite direction as the power means is reduced.

14. A switch mechanism comprising, a support; a movable contact pivotedrelative to the support; a movable member; a shaft rotatably supportedwith respect to the support and extending through the movable member;spring means connected to the movable contact and the movable member;and means carried by the shaft for swinging the movable member uponturning of the shaft to shift the spring means past the pivoted point'of the movable contact, said means having provisions cooperating withmeans on the support to limit the turning of the shaft.

15. A switch mechanism comprising; a support; a movable contact pivotedrelative to the support; a movable member; a shaft rotatably supportedwith respect to the support; spring means connected to the movableccntact and the movable member; and means carried by the shaft andconnected with the movable member, said means operating to swing themovable member upon turning of the shaft to shift the spring means pastits dead center whereby the movable contact is snap actuated and saidmeans having provision cooperating with means on the I port; a movablecontact pivoted relative to the n support; a movable member; a shaftrotatably supported with respect to the support and ex tending throughthe movable member; spring means connected to the movable contact andthe tact pivoted upon the projection; a movable member; a shaftrotatably supported with respect to the support and extending throughthe movable member; spring means connected to the movable lcontact andthe movable member; a plate carried by the shaft and having a connectionwith the movable member for swinging the movable member upon the turningof the shaft to move the spring means past its dead center whereby themovable contact is snap actuated; and means carried by the platecooperating with the projection to limit the turning of the shaft ineither direction of rotation.

